Orange Hub, the high-energy entertainment concept by IdeaCrate, proudly announces the grand opening of its fifth UAE center—and third in Abu Dhabi—at WTC Mall. This flagship venue cements Orange Hub’s position as a rising leader in the UAE’s family entertainment sector, bringing a new era of immersive fun, adrenaline-filled games, and elevated dining to the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi.

Located in a central, high-traffic hub, Orange Hub WTC Mall introduces next-generation attractions not seen in other branches, including a four-lane interactive bowling alley, a state-of-the-art Laser Tag Avenue, a motion-sensitive Pixel Floor Game, and a giant volcano slide in the expanded soft play area. Families, teens, and young adults can also enjoy an expansive arcade and carnival games with high-value redemption rewards.

For the first time, Orange Hub debuts a fully reimagined Orange Café, offering an elevated dining experience with a robust menu designed for comfort, variety, and style—perfect for families and youth looking for the ultimate hangout.

Signature weekly promotions return, including:

1. Hi5 Tuesday: AED 5 games (select games, excluding bowling and laser tag)
2. Half Price Thursday: 50% off blue reader games
3. Double Dirham Friday: Double credit on spend

Shifa Yusuffali, CEO of IdeaCrate said: “Our mission is to create a next-generation family entertainment center where thrill meets play and every visit feels like a win. With cutting-edge attractions, immersive games, and our signature ‘Play. Win. Feast. Repeat.’ experience, Orange Hub is designed for kids, teens, and families to come together, have fun, and make lasting memories—all under one vibrant roof.”

Orange Hub at WTC Mall is now open and ready to welcome families, youth, and anyone seeking the best in urban leisure culture. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a casual outing, or a new spot to feast and play, Orange Hub promises a rewarding experience for all.

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The new leadership structure combines deep local market insight with global brand-building expertise.

Teodora brings extensive experience from iconic Abu Dhabi properties, including The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi, and Aloft Abu Dhabi, applying a strategic and client-centric approach to unlock revenue opportunities across corporate, government, and MICE segments.

Jennifer joins from Germany, where she honed her expertise in brand strategy, digital innovation, and creative storytelling for luxury and lifestyle destinations, bringing a fresh international perspective to the hotel’s marketing and communications strategy.

Together, their complementary strengths in strategic planning, commercial execution, and people-first leadership will be pivotal in enhancing Marriott Al Forsan’s market positioning, driving revenue growth, and delivering elevated guest experiences.

“Strengthening our commercial leadership is central to our strategy of driving sustainable growth and supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision for world-class hospitality,” said Catalina Silvana Susan, General Manager, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi. “Teodora’s deep understanding of the local landscape, combined with Jennifer’s international perspective and innovative marketing approach, creates a powerful synergy. Their leadership will directly contribute to expanding strategic partnerships, increasing market share, and enhancing the hotel’s brand reputation, while supporting the capital’s broader tourism and economic objectives. We look forward to achieving new milestones together.”

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“Mother Nature is the true artist, if you know how to work with her.”
– Chef Mohamed Rifky

At DREAM Dubai, the spotlight doesn’t stop at the stage—it extends to every dish. Executive Chef Mohamed Rifky ensures the kitchen plays just as vital a role in the performance. His approach? Be part of the show, not just support it. From humble beginnings in Sri Lanka to leading one of Dubai’s most theatrical dining venues, Rifky has mastered storytelling through food.

From Peeling to Purpose: A Journey in Motion

Chef Rifky’s path began beside his mother in their Sri Lankan kitchen. Years later, a manager in Abu Dhabi noticed how carefully he prepped ingredients and told him, “You do everything with care.”

“That remark stuck with me,” Rifky says. “It showed me that even the smallest actions can carry meaning.”

Since then, each step in his career has added a new layer to his culinary mindset. While working at a fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant, he realized how food could become art. Later, his time with Alain Ducasse in Dubai taught him to value every ingredient for its purpose. These moments, stitched together, built the foundation of his current philosophy.

Designing Plates That Move With the Performance

At DREAM, the theatrical energy flows into the food. Rifky doesn’t aim to compete with the show—instead, he complements it.

“We add theatrical elements—smoke, vibrant colors, even glow-in-the-dark effects—to mirror each season’s theme.”

Moreover, he draws creative fuel from color, contrast, and emotion. Every dish contributes to the mood, the momentum, and the magic. In this way, the dining experience becomes a seamless part of the spectacle.

A World of Influence, One Story on the Plate

Having trained in Chinese, Indian, Arabic, French, and Mediterranean cuisines, Rifky speaks many culinary languages. But DREAM’s menu isn’t about fusion—it’s about harmony.

“Strong foundations in technique let me move between styles freely,” he says.

Thanks to years of discipline, he’s able to blend global touches into Mediterranean roots without losing the integrity of either. As a result, the food feels familiar yet fresh, bold yet balanced.

Staying Ahead in a City of Evolving Palates

Dubai’s culinary landscape has transformed dramatically. Rifky arrived when options were limited. Today, the city rivals top dining destinations worldwide.

“Guests here want more than great flavor. They want emotion, artistry, and meaning,” he explains.

Naturally, staying ahead requires more than creativity. It demands awareness, flexibility, and continuous learning. Rifky listens closely—to guests, to his team, and to the shifting rhythm of the industry. Still, he never strays from the core identity of DREAM, believing innovation should be guided, not random. curve.

Mentorship, Mindset & the Art of Patience

Known for his approachable leadership, Rifky trains chefs by working alongside them.

“I guide through observation and repetition. Real growth comes from persistence—not perfection.”

Instead of standing above, he stands beside. He sees mistakes as valuable lessons and believes real mentorship begins with understanding. Ultimately, his goal is to help each young chef discover their rhythm in the kitchen—and their voice.

The Dish That Says It All: Josper-Grilled Prawns

Rifky’s personal favorite? The Josper-grilled prawns. The aroma instantly transports him to childhood seaside moments in Sri Lanka.

“It’s simple yet strong. It shows who I am, where I started, and what I value.”

Charcoal-grilled and rich with flavor, the dish reflects his roots, refined by experience. More importantly, it reminds him—and his guests—that food is memory in motion.

Check out our feature on him here, Digital Magazine Hospitality – The Integrator

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Speaking at the summit, Mr. Khalid Al Shmeili, CEO of Emirates Driving Company said, “It’s indeed an extremely proud moment for us as the first global meeting of mobility experts is taking place right here in the capital of UAE. Pioneers of driving education from different countries are imparting education and creating awareness about traffic safety and developing of related solutions and new laws that regulate and legitimize smart mobility.

Setting the pace of distinguished and sustainable training, with this first-of-its-kind event our aim is to accelerate the development of sophisticated and sustainable training techniques and promote a shift towards transportation education that is based on sustainable mobility, technology, and security.”

Establishing a direct relationship between mobility and the prosperity of nations, Associate Provost for Research at UAE University, Professor Ahmed Ali Murad said, “Mobility is an essential element for all communities and all activities. The prosperity of nations may not be fully achieved without high mobility and efficient transportation systems. In other words, high mobility reflects the quality of life and well-being. Studies indicate that increasing the travel speeds by 10 percent would increase the productivity of the city by 3% and would also increase the labor market by 15%.

On the other hand, the expanded markets would then help the expansion of business and create more jobs and opportunities. Improved mobility provides access to better jobs. Modern societies require better mobility. If people can’t move with comfort and safety, their ability to be active and productive will be limited.

However, he also emphasized that enhancement of population mobility should be achieved without increasing the adverse impacts on the environment. The recent shift towards electrification and automation, along with the recent developments in autonomous cars and transportation systems may help in this regard.

“Through this conference, we hope to achieve more safety and higher mobility for the population of UAE. The conference is expected to address and define sustainable solutions to the safety and mobility challenges of today, including road traffic injuries, drowning, and falls. It is hoped that you will be able to develop norms, standards, and tools to improve safety and mobility at the national level further stated by Prof. Murad.

Furthermore, elaborating on the smart Driving Test Project, Lt. Colonel Fahad Al-Arefi, Deputy Director of the Drivers Licensing Department, Abu Dhabi Police said, “ In line with the strategic directions of the government of the United Arab Emirates and the government of Abu Dhabi in the optimal use of human resources and the use of the latest modern technologies, the Abu Dhabi Police General Command – Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Directorate launched the Smart Driving Test Project.

This test represents a quantum leap and a pioneering initiative in evaluating the performance of applicants for obtaining a driver’s license in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The system is unique in terms of full automation of the performance of those who are about to pass the driving test, including achieving the strategic goal of road safety and life safety. The driver inspection system relies on the latest technologies used globally using artificial intelligence, which ensures keeping pace with global trends in this field and evaluating drivers without the intervention of the human element. Technology contributes to re-engineering procedures and processes, which reduces time and effort on customers, raises the level of customer happiness, and achieves the government’s aspirations for providing seven-star services.”

Hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 14-16 November 2022 and organized by Emirates Driving Company in partnership with Abu Dhabi Police HQ, the European Driving Schools Association, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi, the breakthrough event targets driving schools from across the world and looks at how they can be progressed to provide a greater level of service and education for future generations.

Established in 2000, Emirates Driving Company (EDC) is Abu Dhabi’s leading driver training and road safety institute. Driven by a desire to implement the best practices in driver training and road safety education across the emirate, it is on a mission to create safer roads by innovating, collaborating, and investing in new technologies and smarter operating models.

A socially responsible company founded on the values of integrity and inclusivity, EDC has set a new standard in traffic safety and education in the Middle East. EDC’s state-of-the-art facility features the most advanced communication tools, control systems, and cutting-edge techniques in the industry, and all its expert training is delivered to internationally recognized standards.

Its comprehensive services include full training courses in light vehicles, motorcycles, heavy vehicles, heavy buses, and light and heavy machinery, with each program covering basic vehicle knowledge, traffic rules, driving inside and outside cities, hazard perception, and more.

The forward-thinking organization also offers its own e-learning platform to provide easy access to useful documents and resources, and it proudly boasts two offices in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

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Passengers riding the Centre’s fleet of taxis in Abu Dhabi will enjoy a free Smart Wi-Fi service while on board, the largest and most innovative of its kind in the world. The rollout of the service will begin in November this year and is expected to be completed across the Centre’s entire fleet by mid 2017.

At Gitex Technology Week, Jamal Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Etisalat, Abu Dhabi and Esam Al Mazroei, Vice Chairman of Telematics signed a five-year partnership agreement today. As part of the agreement, Etisalat, whose world-class network will power the high speed and secure Smart Wi-Fi service, will deliver its network services and sophisticated M2M platform – M2M control centre for the largest connected car platform in the region to Telematics, which will be deployed across the entire Abu Dhabi taxi fleet.

Telematics, together with its partner BlueGreen, have worked closely with the Centre to design this bespoke Smart Wi-Fi service, which, in addition to providing a secure and robust Wi-Fi network to passengers, will also offer Abu Dhabi, and indeed the UAE, the biggest mobile media service within taxis. The Wi-Fi service can be used to deliver smart value-added services, such as customer communication, satisfaction surveys, government citizen polls, as well as allowing businesses and brands the ability to gainfully engage with their consumers without any friction.

Speaking of this key initiative, Mr Mohammad Al Qamzi, General Manager of The Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars said, “The Centre is constantly striving to enhance the passenger experience it delivers in its taxis. We are pleased to partner with Telematics and BlueGreen to bring this world-class Smart Wi-Fi service to our passengers, who can now avail of constant connectivity in our taxis for free, and also enjoy the bespoke value-added services it will deliver. We are confident this service will enhance passenger satisfaction and happiness, and thereby increase the use of our excellent public taxi service in Abu Dhabi.”

On the occasion of the launch of the Smart Wi-Fi service, Jamal Saeed Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Etisalat- Abu Dhabi, said “UAE has always led the way in the region and globally to launch and implement smart technologies and services that make an impact in the way of life for residents in the country. Etisalat is today spearheading UAE’s smart city and digital transformation journey. We are proud to be associated with this strategic project that is a global first. This is set to transform the digital experience of passengers in Abu Dhabi taxis, and I am sure will set the benchmark for Smart Taxi services across the UAE.”

In line with its smart city solution portfolio, Telematics worked eagerly on this initiative to support “the visionary leadership of the UAE in its efforts to create innovative and world-class technological services that pave the way for building a knowledge-driven society,” said Esam Al Mazroei, Vice Chairman of Telematics. “We are very proud to be the key partner in this project, especially as a local technology company that strives to innovate in local and global markets.”

As announced in late September, the rollout will begin with Airport taxis and the Mercedes Vito Compact vans.

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